After speaking with the N.C. Division of Air Quality, Haywood County is currently at a Level Red Air Quality. We have been advised healthy individuals are safe to be outside if they limit their activity level. At risk individuals should avoid prolonged and heavy exertion outdoors. Everyone else should limit prolonged and heavy exertion outdoors.
Based upon this information, we are advising our schools to limit outdoor physical education and monitor any students with health history of a respiratory condition. Extra-curricular activities like athletic practices should be limited and take extra precaution. These will be monitored by coaches and athletic training staff to assure the greatest degree of safety for our student athletes.
This is an unusual circumstance for Western North Carolina. We recommend that anyone experiencing respiratory distress, contact their medical provider. We encourage parents to use their best judgement.
The safety of our students is our priority.